Johtull Wurm MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Wurm
Power 6
Toughness 6

Key Takeaways

  1. Johtull Wurm’s toughness demands resources and tactics, offering indirect card advantage benefits.
  2. It complements mana ramp strategies, propelling threats and pressure way ahead of the curve.
  3. Understanding instant speed interactions can keep the wurm a persistent deterrent in games.

Text of card

For each blocking creature assigned to Johtull Worm beyond the first, Johtull Worm gets -2/-1 until end of turn.

"To bring her down we must be on all sides at once—leave one avenue open and we'll all be dead." —Taaveti of Kelsinko, Elvish Hunter


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Johtull Wurm brings significant toughness to the battlefield, becoming an attention-drawing threat that demands an answer. Its mere presence can lead to advantageous trades for you, as opponents may have to commit more resources to overcome it. This can indirectly lead to card advantage because it’s often not easy to remove without using multiple cards.

Resource Acceleration: In decks built around mana ramp or those containing ways to cheat creatures onto the battlefield, Johtull Wurm can be a game-changer. It might enable you to leverage the potential of resource acceleration strategies, allowing you to deploy threats ahead of schedule and put pressure on your opponent earlier than expected.

Instant Speed: Although Johtull Wurm itself isn’t an instant, understanding how to best play around the opponent’s instant speed removal is key. Well-timed plays can ensure that your creature sticks around, effectively working as a deterrent by capitalizing on the fact that it has to be dealt with immediately, tying up the opponent’s mana at critical moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the case of Johtull Wurm, one notable drawback is the discard requirement that comes into play. Players must throw away another card, which can be particularly taxing if your hand is already dwindling or if every card you currently hold is vital to your game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of this creature is not just high but also specific, demanding a certain combination of resources. Deck construction has to accommodate these requirements, which can sometimes limit deck versatility and make it harder to summon the wurm consistently within different types of decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a higher mana cost relative to other creatures in the same category, Johtull Wurm can be a late-game play. While it brings formidable power to the battlefield, players may find that other creatures or spells could provide more immediate impact or versatility for the same or a lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Johtull Wurm is a robust addition to a variety of green-based decks. Its ability to force multiple creatures to block it means that it can disrupt your opponent’s board presence significantly, lending itself to both offensive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: In decks that capitalize on creatures being tapped or creatures dying, Johtull Wurm shines. It can act as a catalyst, creating beneficial situations by engaging numerous creatures in combat.

Meta-Relevance: With a meta that leans heavily towards creature-based strategies, Johtull Wurm can be a game-changer. Its presence on the field necessitates an answer, and in the right environment, it becomes a formidable threat that can shape the flow of the game.


How to beat Johtull Wurm

Tackling the Johtull Wurm in Magic: The Gathering requires a thoughtful approach due to its formidable presence on the battlefield. Notably, the Johtull Wurm’s sheer size makes it a force to be reckoned with, but like any creature, it has its vulnerabilities. Prioritizing removal spells that can bypass its beefy toughness is a solid start. Cards such as Path to Exile or Terminate can provide a clean solution without the need for a direct combat encounter.

Another strategic move is to manipulate combat outcomes to your advantage. Ensnaring creatures like Frost Lynx can tap the Johtull Wurm, preventing it from attacking or blocking temporarily. Furthermore, employing counter strategies when your opponent attempts to cast it can nip the threat in the bud. Counterspell and Essence Scatter are perfect tools to keep this massive wurm from ever taking root on the battlefield.

It’s crucial to be prepared for such large threats in your deck-building choices. Incorporating a mix of targeted removal, versatile counters, and control elements can ensure that creatures like Johtull Wurm become manageable bumps on your road to victory, rather than insurmountable obstacles.


Cards like Johtull Wurm

Johtull Wurm is a unique creature in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering’s myriad of beastly options. Standing as a behemoth within Green’s creature pool, it closely resembles the likes of Craw Wurm in terms of raw power and toughness. Both are colossal in stature, but Johtull Wurm elevates the game with its propensity to force multiple creatures to block it, potentially clearing your path of pesky defenders.

Contrastingly, creatures like Thorn Elemental offer players a different tactical advantage. Although Thorn Elemental also boasts significant power, it can deal damage as though it were not blocked, circumventing the need to engage multiple blockers altogether. Meanwhile, Bellowing Tanglewurm provides a subtler form of influence, granting other Green creatures you control the ability to slip through defenses by making them unblockable.

Assessing these comparable giants, Johtull Wurm merits attention for its compelling battlefield presence and tactical blockade, carving a niche that’s notably distinct from its counterparts. It exhibits a fusion of relentless force and strategic depth, evidencing its strength within the vast collection of creatures in the MTG universe.

Craw Wurm - MTG Card versions
Thorn Elemental - MTG Card versions
Bellowing Tanglewurm - MTG Card versions
Craw Wurm - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Thorn Elemental - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Bellowing Tanglewurm - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)

Cards similar to Johtull Wurm by color, type and mana cost

Craw Wurm - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Liege - MTG Card versions
Force of Nature - MTG Card versions
Wiitigo - MTG Card versions
Autumn Willow - MTG Card versions
Ancient Silverback - MTG Card versions
Sulam Djinn - MTG Card versions
Verdeloth the Ancient - MTG Card versions
Nemata, Grove Guardian - MTG Card versions
Gang of Elk - MTG Card versions
Kavu Howler - MTG Card versions
Crashing Centaur - MTG Card versions
Giant Warthog - MTG Card versions
Rhox - MTG Card versions
Kodama of the East Tree - MTG Card versions
Terra Stomper - MTG Card versions
Feral Throwback - MTG Card versions
Silvos, Rogue Elemental - MTG Card versions
Brontotherium - MTG Card versions
Elvish Aberration - MTG Card versions
Craw Wurm - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Gaea's Liege - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
Force of Nature - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Wiitigo - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Autumn Willow - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Ancient Silverback - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Sulam Djinn - Invasion (INV)
Verdeloth the Ancient - Modern Masters (MMA)
Nemata, Grove Guardian - The List (PLST)
Gang of Elk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Kavu Howler - Apocalypse (APC)
Crashing Centaur - Odyssey (ODY)
Giant Warthog - Judgment (JUD)
Rhox - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Kodama of the East Tree - Commander Legends (CMR)
Terra Stomper - Magic Origins (ORI)
Feral Throwback - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silvos, Rogue Elemental - Onslaught (ONS)
Brontotherium - Legions (LGN)
Elvish Aberration - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Johtull Wurm MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Fifth Edition, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Johtull Wurm and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Johtull Wurm Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-06-03Ice AgeICE 2501993normalblackDaniel Gelon
21997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 3061997normalwhiteIan Miller
32008-09-22Masters Edition IIME2 1681997normalblackDaniel Gelon

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Johtull Wurm has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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